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Finding Aid for the Donald Paine Collection of the White Caps of Sevierville, Tennessee, 1892-2000


MS-2513

University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN


Encoded by: Elizabeth Dunham, December 6, 2006.

Summary Information
Title: Donald Paine Collection of the White Caps of Sevierville, Tennessee

Date/Date Range :   1892-2000

Extent: 1.0 linear feet

Abstract:
This collection houses notes, correspondence, legal transcripts, supporting legal cases, newspaper clippings, and books documenting the White Cap organization and membership.

Call number: MS-2513

Repository: University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Access and Use
Aquisition Information:
Donald Paine donated this collection to the Special Collections Library.
Access Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Copyright:
The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation:
[Identification of Item], Donald Paine Collection of the White Caps of Sevierville, Tennessee, MS-2513. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Arrangement

Collection consists of one box divided into seven series:

  1. Series I: Publications
  2. Series II: Legal Documents and Trial Information
  3. Series III: Newspaper Articles
  4. Series IV: Lecture Notes
  5. Series V: Photographs and Contracts
  6. Series VI: Miscellaneous Notes
  7. Series VII: MetroPulse

Biography / History

The White Caps of Sevier County, Tennessee, were a vigilante group formed in approximately 1892 by citizens who wished to rid Sevier County of individuals (mostly women) whom they deemed lewd or adulterous. Their modus operandi was to leave the offending party a note signed "White Caps," occasionally accompanied by hickory withes, warning them to leave town. If this tactic proved ineffective, the group escalated to whippings. The White Caps were extremely popular between 1892 and 1896 and thus extremely hard to control legally. Local law enforcement turned a blind eye to their doings and even when arrested White Caps would frequently tamper with juries to ensure their acquittal. In this atmosphere of tolerance, the beatings gradually increased in severity until Laura and William Whaley were brutally murdered in front of their infant child in December of 1896. Because the Whaleys were generally considered poor but honest citizens of Sevier County, this event turned public opinion against the White Caps, and the group rapidly declined.


Collection Scope and Content Note

This collection is composed primarily of secondary source material regarding the White Caps. Chief among these sources are the books and articles contained in Series I: Publications, which provide considerable background information about the White Cap organization. Series IV: Lecture Notes, Series V: Photographs and Contracts, Series VI: Miscellaneous Notes, and Series VII: MetroPulse add to this information by providing brief descriptions, summaries, and illustrations of the White Cap organization.

This collection also contains valuable primary source information. This information can be found primarily in Series II: Legal Documents and Trial Information. This series houses records relating to trials of White Caps operatives, specifically Bob Catlett, Pleas Wynn, and Catlett Tipton. These documents include chronologies, transcripts, opinions issued, and relevant legislation. Also present are the documents housed in Series III: Newspaper Clippings. These articles provide the reader with valuable insight into the general public's view of the White Cap organization and the eventual punishment of convicted White Cap operatives.

Subject Terms

  • White Caps (Organization).
  • Lawyers -- Tennessee.
  • Paine, Donald.
  • Secret Societies -- Tennessee -- Sevier County (Tenn.) -- History.
Contents List
   

Series I: Publications, 1899-1991
Box   1     Folder   1    
The White Caps of Sevier County: A Story of a Feud Between the White Caps and the Blue Bills in Sevier County in the Great Smoky Mountains. By Cas Walker. Knoxville, TN. Copyright 1937, 1974
Box   1     Folder   2    
The White-Caps: A History of the Organization in Sevier County. Knoxville, TN: E.Z. Crozier, 1899
Box   1     Folder   3    
Interment of the White Caps. Marion B. Mangrum. Brazos Printing Company, Inc., Maryville, TN, 1973
Box   1     Folder   4    
Joe Cummings: "Community and the Nature of Change: Seveier County, Tennessee, in the 1890's." In The East Tennessee Historical Society's Publications , pp. 63-88 undated
Box   1     Folder   4    
Joe Cummings: Community, Violence, and the Nature of Change: Whitecapping in Sevier County, Tennessee, During the 1890s. Thesis submitted for the Master of Arts Degree in History, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1988 June
Box   1     Folder   5    
Crozier/Davis: Copy of The White Caps: A History of the Organization in Sevier County , 1989
Box   1     Folder   6    
E.P. Thompson: Copy of Chapter 8 ( "Rough Music" ) from Customs in Common by E.P. Thompson. New York: The New Press, 1991
Box   1     Folder   7    
Joseph Lewelling: Copy of "The White Caps of Sevier County: Economic and Cultural Perspecitves." In Tennessee Anthropologist XI (Fall 1986): 156-173, 1986
   

Series II: Legal Documents and Trial Information, 1831-1999
Box   1     Folder   8    
Chronology: Sevier County Whitecaps Trial Chronology
Box   1     Folder   8    
The Trials of Bob Catlett Chronology
Box   1     Folder   9    
Correspondence, 1994-1999

Scope Note:

Letters to and from the Law Firm of Paine, Swiney, and Tarwater, LLP. Items cover the years 1994-1999. Letters consist of requests for information and meetings as well as thanks and acknowledegment of contributions from various people.
Box   1     Folder   10    
Sir Thomas More: Copies of and excerpt from "A Man for All Seasons"

Box   1     Folder   11    
Lewdness: Copy of The State v. Cagle and Boling, Knoxville, (Humphrey's Reports, pp. 433-436), 1841 July
Box   1     Folder   11    
Lewdness: John Grisham and Jane Ligan v. The State, Sparta (The Supreme Court of the State of Tennessee, pp. 589-597), 1831 August
Box   1     Folder   11    
Lewdness: Notes on possible supporting cases
Box   1     Folder   12    
Knoxville Archives: Letter from the Supreme Court of the State of Tennessee regarding the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society, 1998 July 7
Box   1     Folder   12    
Knoxville Archives: Inventory of Archives
Box   1     Folder   12    
Knoxville Archives: Minutes, Records, and Dockets of various Cabinets.
Box   1     Folder   12    
Knoxville Archives: Copy of Fax from Tennessee State Library and Archives.
Box   1     Folder   12    
Knoxville Archives: Records Disposition Authorization.
Box   1     Folder   13    
Nashville Archives: Letter of Order from the Supreme Court of Tennessee requesting copies of briefs (Catlett v. State -- 1903) for Don Paine.
Box   1     Folder   13    
Nashville Archives: Handwritten notes and exerpts from trial transcripts.
Box   1     Folder   14    
Catlett v. State Opinion: Copy of Opinion, 1903 October 31
Box   1     Folder   15    
Supreme Court Affirms Wynn and Tipton Convictions: 2 letters to the Deputy Clerk, Tennessee Supreme Court, 1998 July 21
Box   1     Folder   15    
Supreme Court Affirms Wynn and Tipton Convictions: Copy of the Sentinel article referred to in the letters, 1898 November 18
Box   1     Folder   16    
Legislation: Copy of Chapter 52, Public Acts [Senate Bill No. 368]
Box   1     Folder   16    
Legislation: Copy of Chapter 223, Public Acts [House Bill No. 738]
Box   1     Folder   16    
Legislation: Copy of Chapter 224, Public Acts [Senate Bill No. 241]
Box   1     Folder   16    
Legislation: Copy of the Houk Whitecap Law, Full Text of the Measure Passed by the Legislature [Senate Bill No. 368], appearing in unnamed publication.
Box   1     Folder   16    
Legislation: Personal Notes
Box   1     Folder   17    
State v. Catlett: Copy of transcript from State v. W.R. Catlett. Index (1 page), "Opinion" (17 pages), Transcript (236 pages), and Court Costs (1 page), 1903 October 31
Box   1     Folder   18    
Wynn v. State I: Copy of transcript from Pleas Wynn v. State, Trial I. Important Dates (1 page), Index (4 pages), Trial I (96 pages).
Box   1     Folder   19    
Wynn v. State II: Copy of transcript from Pleas Wynn and Catlett Tipton v. State, Trial II. Index (6 pages), Transcript (173 pages), Court Costs (1 page), and Appeal Argument (11 pages).
   

Series III: Newspaper Articles, 1892-1904, 1998
Box   1     Folder   20    
Dandridge Killing of Jenkins, Knoxville Journal , 1892 April 24
Box   1     Folder   21    
Battle of Henderson Springs, Knoxville Journal , 1894 October 25
Box   1     Folder   22    
Murder of Dr. Henderson: Knoxville Journal Article, 1894 November 29
Box   1     Folder   22    
Murder of Dr. Henderson: Personal Notes
Box   1     Folder   23    
Murder of Laura and William Whaley, Knoxville Journal , 1896 December 28
Box   1     Folder   24    
The Gass Trial: Articles from the Knoxville Sentinel and The Vindicator , 1897 July 16-1897 August 4
Box   1     Folder   25    
Wynn and Tipton, Trial I, The Vindicator , 1897 August 4
Box   1     Folder   26    
Wynn and Tipton, Trial II, The Vindicator , 1898 April 1-1898 April 8
Box   1     Folder   27    
Articles on Wynn, Catlett, and Tipton: Articles on the Wynn and Tipton case, Knoxville Sentinel , 1899 February 6-1899 February 11
Box   1     Folder   27    
Articles on Wynn, Catlett, and Tipton: Articles on the Catlett case, Knoxville Journal and Tribune , 1899 February 7-1899 February 13
Box   1     Folder   27    
Articles on Wynn, Catlett, and Tipton: Articles on Catlett and Tipton, The Vindicator , 1899 February 8-1899 February 15
Box   1     Folder   28    
Catlett Trial II in Hamblen: Knoxville Sentinel Article, 1899 April 27
Box   1     Folder   28    
Catlett Trial II in Hamblen: Knoxville Sentinel Article, 1899 May 2
Box   1     Folder   28    
Catlett Trial II in Hamblen: Knoxville Sentinel Article, 1899 May 3
Box   1     Folder   28    
Catlett Trial II in Hamblen: Knoxville Sentinel Article, 1899 May 5
Box   1     Folder   29    
Nolle prosequi re. Catlett in Hamblen: Montgomery's Vindicator Article, 1899 May 17
Box   1     Folder   29    
Nolle prosequi re. Catlett in Hamblen: Knoxville Sentinel Article, 1899 May 22
Box   1     Folder   29    
Nolle prosequi re. Catlett in Hamblen: Knoxville Sentinel Article, 1899 May 23
Box   1     Folder   30    
Hanging of Wynn and Tipton: Knoxville Sentinel Article, 1899 July 4
Box   1     Folder   30    
Hanging of Wynn and Tipton: Knoxville Sentinel Article (v. XIII, n. 159)
Box   1     Folder   30    
Hanging of Wynn and Tipton: Knoxville Sentinel Article, 1899 July 5
Box   1     Folder   30    
Hanging of Wynn and Tipton: Knoxville Journal and Tribune Article, 1899 July 5
Box   1     Folder   30    
Hanging of Wynn and Tipton: Knoxville Journal and Tribune Article, 1899 July 6
Box   1     Folder   30    
Hanging of Wynn and Tipton: The Vindicator Article, 1899 July 12
Box   1     Folder   30    
Hanging of Wynn and Tipton: Typed Transcript of Montgomery's Vindicator Article, 1899 July 12
Box   1     Folder   30    
Hanging of Wynn and Tipton: The Mountain Press Progress Edition article by Jim Lynch on the White Cap Saga, 1995 February 26
Box   1     Folder   31    
Catlett Trial III in Loudon: Articles, source unknown, 1903 February 11-1903 February 13
Box   1     Folder   32    
Catlett Trail IV in Loudon: Personal letter to Don Paine, 1998 August 15
Box   1     Folder   32    
Catlett Trail IV in Loudon: Knoxville Journal and Tribune Article, 1903 June 10
Box   1     Folder   32    
Catlett Trail IV in Loudon: Knoxville Journal and Tribune Article, 1903 June 11
Box   1     Folder   32    
Catlett Trail IV in Loudon: Knoxville Journal and Tribune Article, 1903 June 12
Box   1     Folder   32    
Catlett Trail IV in Loudon: Knoxville Journal and Tribune Article, 1903 June 13
Box   1     Folder   32    
Catlett Trail IV in Loudon: Knoxville Journal and Tribune Article, 1903 June 14
Box   1     Folder   33    
Supreme Court Reverses Catlett Conviction: The Daily Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, TN) article, 1903 October 14
Box   1     Folder   33    
Supreme Court Reverses Catlett Conviction: The Daily Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, TN) article, 1903 November 1
Box   1     Folder   33    
Supreme Court Reverses Catlett Conviction: Montgomery's Vindicator article, 1903 November 4
Box   1     Folder   34    
Catlett Trial V in Loudon: Knoxville Sentinel article, 1904 April 6
Box   1     Folder   34    
Catlett Trial V in Loudon: Knoxville Sentinel article, 1904 April 7
Box   1     Folder   34    
Catlett Trial V in Loudon: Knoxville Sentinel article (4 o'clock edition), 1904 April 9
Box   1     Folder   34    
Catlett Trial V in Loudon: The Daily Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, TN) article (2 copies), 1904 April 10
Box   1     Folder   34    
Catlett Trial V in Loudon: The Vindicator article (2 copies), 1904 April 13
   

Series IV: Lecture Notes
Box   1     Folder   35    
Outline of Lecture (2 pages)
Box   1     Folder   35    
Trials of Pleas Wynn and Catlett Tipton (List, 1 page)
Box   1     Folder   35    
Trial I of Pleas Wynn and Catlett Tipton (5 pages)
Box   1     Folder   35    
Trial II of Pleas Wynn and Catlett Tipton (1 page)
Box   1     Folder   35    
Ethics issues in Whitecaps Trials (1 page)
Box   1     Folder   35    
Trials of Bob Catlett (2 pages)
Box   1     Folder   35    
Whitecaps Notes (6 3x5 cards)
   

Series V: Photographs and Contracts
Box   1     Folder   36    
Photographs

Scope Note:

Two sets of modern photos of gravestones, road signs, barn, and house relative to cases. 13 photos in each set, first set has two additional photos of house.
Box   1     Folder   37    
Robe Contract, 1996 September 14

Scope Note:

Letter to Sevier County Heritage Museum detailing the conditions of a contract for the museum to display a Whitecaps robe, owned by Don Paine.
   

Series VI: Notes, 1896-1897, 1994-1998
Box   1     Folder   38    
Personal notation on copies taken from The Vindicator

Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes from telephone conversation with Judge Gary Wade, 1994 July 20

Scope Note:

Geneaological notations of notable figures in the Whitecaps era and lineage to more current notable figures in Knoxville.
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes from conversation with Joe Cummings, 1995 July 22
Box   1     Folder   38    
Fax cover sheet of a transmission to Joe Cummings from Don Paine, undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
"Sevier County, Tennessee: A Bibliography." Compiled by Harriet Jordan, Knoxville, Tennessee. In Tennessee Ancestors (3 pages), 1995 December
Box   1     Folder   38    
Letter to Don Paine from Theresa D. Williams, 1996 January 22
Box   1     Folder   38    
Letter to Ms. Linda Billman, WBIR Television. Re. Jasper Mellinger (murdered) from Don Paine, 1997 August 15
Box   1     Folder   38    
Letter to Don Paine from Joyce Phillips, 1996 August 22

Scope Note:

Attatched are copies of "Queries," Tennessee Ancestors , April 1996 and copies of the first pages of her book The White Caps: A History of the Organization in Sevier County . Inside the cover handwritten inscription stating ownership of the book to Mr. J.K. Ault, Loudon, signed Tim. Also copies of the first few pages of the book (9 pages).
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes of telephone conversation with John Parker, 1996 September 4
Box   1     Folder   38    
Note stating names of persons (contacts?), undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes of telephone conversation with John Waters, 1997 January 5
Box   1     Folder   38    
Letter of thanks to Theresa D. Williams for her material on Jasper Mellinger (murdered), 1997 February 17

Scope Note:

Attatched are a letter from Ms. Williams to Don Paine and copies from her files on the Mellinger murder (10 pages, including envelope)
Box   1     Folder   38    
Letter to Ron Allen, R.R. Allen Books, noting enclosed payment and posing the question of Crozier's connection to the book The White Caps: A History of the Organization in Sevier County , 1998 August 9
Box   1     Folder   38    
Letter from Ron Allen, R.R. Allen Books (Knoxville, Tennessee) to Mr. Don Paine, 1998 August 11

Scope Note:

Discusses purchase and condition, as well as details concerning publisher Crozier, of The White Caps: A History of the Organization in Sevier County.

Box   1     Folder   38    
Copy of fax from Karen Roberts, 1997 February 19
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes: "Whitecaps and Bluebills" file, undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes on people posessing materials, 1998 July 4
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes, "Evidence Issues in State v. Wynn and Tipton" (2 pages), undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes, "Trial II" (14 pages), undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes, "States Proof" , undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes, "Whitecaps v. Bluebills" , undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes, "Other hearings" , undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes, "Bob Catlett Trial IV" , undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes, "Bob Catlett III" (2 pages), undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Copy of p. 8-9, "The Politics of Riot," in Riots and Community Politics in England and Wales . John Bohstedt, Harvard, 1983
Box   1     Folder   38    
Copy of p. 112-120 of George Washington Lawson Diary, 1896-1897
Box   1     Folder   38    
Copy from McMahan Family Heritage Book , M.B. McMahan, II, (7 pages), undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Copy of newspaper column, "Tennessee Travels" , by Vic Weals, undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
List of "copies needed from Knoxville Journal and Tribune" , undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes, contact name and phone number concerning location of Whaley cabin, undated.
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes, contact name and phone number, WBIR, Bil Landry series, undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes, contact name and phone number with hand-drawn map, undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
"The Sevier County Whitecaps" by D. Paine, description of a robe worn by the Whitecaps during the 1890s, undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Note to Karen to check the UT Libraries for the book, History of Women and Kluxers in the Great Smoky Mountains , undated
Box   1     Folder   38    
Notes, contact name an phone number concerning Molly Whaley's children, undated
   

Series VII: MetroPulse, 2000
Box   1     Folder   39    
MetroPulse Article Injustice for All (June 29-July 5, 2000; v. 10, no. 26) 6 pages, two copies, 2000
Box   1     Folder   40    
MetroPulse newspaper, June 29 -- July 5, 2000 edition (3 copies of the original newspaper), 2000